Blue Jays' Quixotic journey continues

An actor portrays Don Quixote, the fictional character created by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. According to columnist Mike Rutsey, the Blue Jays' quest to reach the 2013 playoffs is a Quixotic one that is bound to end like every other baseball season since 1993. (WADIH SHLINK/REUTERS/files)

TORONTO - The Blue Jays return to the scene of the crime on Friday to continue what for them has become a Quixotic journey through the 2013 season.

The hope as last expressed by manager John Gibbons is that the four-day all-star break will provide his underachieving troops with a much-needed mental break, that they will return refreshed and be ready to launch a second-half comeback that will move them into contention for a post-season berth.

"These four days will be good for us, a little breather, regroup," Gibbons said last Sunday following the Blue Jays' loss to Baltimore, their 13th defeat in their past 20 games. "We'll find out what we're made of and how good we are in the second half. We need everybody to kick it in in the second half."